Sheriff Flatbill

George Sherrill recorded his 26th save tonight against the Chicago Cubs, but not before loading the bases with no outs. He then struck out the side. I haven't seen an Oriole pitcher accomplish such a feat in ten years. Fans call him "the Sheriff" and the flat bill on his cap makes him look like a Maryland state trooper.

Down 7-1, the Cubs roared back in the late innings and nearly notched their 25th comeback, but tonight the pesky Birds hung tough. I've never heard Wrigley Field so alive with excitement in the later innings. It sounded like Yankee Stadium with the crowd on their feat and trying to intimidate the opposition. They had won 14 straight games at home. The crowd cheering FU-KU-DO-ME and clapping to incite their Japanese lead-off man was impressive.

Is it the year of the Cubbie bear? I remember living in the Chicago area in the early eighties and even then, the 1969 collapse was still fresh on Cubs fan's minds. Those who had lived through the loss of a 14 game lead on August 15th were still in pain. My first and extremely painful baseball memory came six weeks later when the Amazin' Mets dropped my O's in the World Series.

With the team they have this year and the fans behind them, Lou Pinella might just end the longest world series drought in baseball. The Cubs are now 32-9 at home. If they are there in October, I'd like to see them win it--for those kids I knew back in Wilmette--who had their summer ruined in 1969.